Program Overview

Introduction to the DPhil in Materials IDLA: Enhanced Recyclability of Aluminium from Low-Grade Scrap

The DPhil in Materials IDLA is a research-based doctoral program that focuses on the enhanced recyclability of aluminium from low-grade scrap. This program is funded by the Engineering and Physical Sciences Research Council (EPSRC) and is offered by the Department of Materials at the University of Oxford.

About the Course

The DPhil in Materials IDLA is a full-time or part-time program that requires students to investigate a particular project in depth and write a thesis that makes a significant contribution to the field. The program commences in either Hilary Term (January) or Trinity Term (April) and is expected to be completed within 3-4 years.

Attendance

The program can be studied full-time or part-time, with both modes requiring attendance in Oxford. Full-time students are subject to the University's Residence requirements, while part-time students are required to attend course-related activities in Oxford for a minimum of 30 days each year.

Resources to Support Study

As a graduate student, you will have access to the University's wide range of resources, including libraries, museums, galleries, digital resources, and IT services. The Bodleian Libraries is the largest library system in the UK, with over 13 million printed items and access to e-journals. The University's IT Services is available to support students with core university IT systems and tools.

Supervision

The allocation of graduate supervision for this course is the responsibility of the Department of Materials. You can expect to have meetings with your supervisor or a member of the supervisory team at least once every two weeks, averaged across the year.

Assessment

The first year of the program is a probationary year, after which you will normally transfer from Probationer Research Student (PRS) to full DPhil status. A second formal assessment of progress, Confirmation of Status, takes place later in the program, normally in the middle of the third year. The Transfer of Status and Confirmation of Status assessments are conducted by two members of staff other than your supervisor(s) or advisors. Examination for the DPhil takes place at the end of the program by means of a written thesis and an oral examination.

Entry Requirements

To be eligible for the DPhil in Materials IDLA, you should hold or be predicted to achieve a first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in a suitable science subject, such as materials science, chemistry, physics, engineering, or mathematics.

• Degree-level qualifications: A first-class or strong upper second-class undergraduate degree with honors in a suitable science subject.
• GRE General Test scores: No Graduate Record Examination (GRE) or GMAT scores are required.
• Other qualifications, evidence of excellence, and relevant experience: Additional indicators considered when assessing an application include performance in previous research projects, the award of national prizes, and preliminary knowledge of relevant research techniques.

English Language Proficiency

This course requires proficiency in English at the University's standard level. If your first language is not English, you may need to provide evidence that you meet this requirement.

Funding

This studentship project is funded by UKRI, and only applications from applicants who meet the residential eligibility criteria for UKRI funding will be considered. The successful applicant will be offered a fully-funded scholarship, covering all course fees for the duration of their course and a living stipend.

Costs

The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis, with the annual course fees for the academic year being Ł10,070 for Home students and Ł33,370 for Overseas students.

• Annual course fees: The fees for this course are charged on an annual basis.
• What do course fees cover?: Course fees cover your teaching as well as other academic services and facilities provided to support your studies.
• How long do I need to pay course fees?: Course fees are payable each year, for the duration of your fee liability.

Living Costs

In addition to your course fees, you will need to ensure that you have adequate funds to support your living costs for the duration of your course.

• Living costs for full-time study: The range of likely living costs for a single, full-time student is published on the University's website.
• Further information about living costs: The current economic climate and periods of high national inflation make it harder to estimate potential changes to the cost of living over the next few years.

College Preference

Students enrolled on this course will belong to both a department/faculty and a college. You can express a preference for one of the colleges listed or ask the University to find a college for you.

How to Apply

To apply for the DPhil in Materials IDLA, you should refer to the information on the University's website and consult the Application Guide for advice.

• Proposed field and title of research project: Please leave 'Field and title of research project' blank on the 'Course' tab of the application form.
• Proposed supervisor: It is not necessary for you to identify a potential supervisor in your application.
• Referees: You should register three referees, with at least one being an academic reference.
• Official transcript(s): Your transcripts should give detailed information of the individual grades received in your university-level qualifications to date.
• CV/résumé: A CV/résumé is compulsory for this course, highlighting your academic achievements and any relevant professional experience.
• Research proposal: You should submit an outline of your proposed research, written in English, with a minimum of 1,000 words and a maximum of 1,500 words.

Research Areas

The DPhil in Materials IDLA focuses on the enhanced recyclability of aluminium from low-grade scrap. The project aims to develop the necessary science and understanding to design new inoculants and modifiers for the most problematic intermetallic compounds present in automotive and aerospace aluminium alloys.

• Aluminium manufacturing: Aluminium manufacturing is directly responsible for 2% of global CO2 emissions, and increasing recycling rates is urgently needed to accelerate its decarbonization.
• Current aluminium recycling processes: Current aluminium recycling processes are not capable of dealing with low-grade 'dirty' scrap and heavily rely on energy-intensive primary metal to tightly constrain impurity levels.
• Impurity elements: Impurity elements have the tendency to segregate during solidification and precipitate into harmful intermetallic compounds (IMCs) that compromise the material performance even at small volume fractions.

Graduate Destinations

Graduates of the DPhil and MSc by Research in Materials are highly regarded by a wide range of employers, including universities, high-tech start-up companies, engineering consultancies, industry, and the financial and business sectors.

• Employment opportunities: Graduates have a wide range of employment opportunities in various sectors.
• Skills and knowledge: The program equips students with a wide range of research and transferable skills, as well as in-depth knowledge, understanding, and expertise in their chosen field of research.